John Mason was once a governor of Newfoundland's earliest plantation, that of William Vaughan in the southern half of the Avalon Peninsula; he later became a settlement promoter of New England.In 1620 he published his now famous Discourse extolling Newfoundland's virtues and riches and prominence in the beginning of what would become the British Empire.

The Discourse uses early 17th language and terms no longer in common use. DAO of NEW-FOUND-LAND attempts to translate this language and usage for modern readers.